SRINAGAR, Sept 12: India lodged a protest with Pakistan on Wednesday, a day after its soldiers came under heavy cross-border fire on Kashmir border, a security official said.
Army said its troops guarding the rugged border with Pakistan gave a “calibrated” response and fired back effectively, adding that there was no casualty or injury to anyone in the firing exchanges.
“The protest was lodged at a flag meeting held at Garkhal forward post along the International Border (IB) in Samba yesterday in which BSF was represented by Commanding Officer Vijay Paul Singh and Pakistan was represented by 24-Chinab Rangers Lt Col Shahid Raja,” PTI quoted the officer as saying.
The exchange of fire comes days after the two south-Asian nuclear foes, which have had decades of animosity, agreed to ease tough visa restrictions.
A truce between India and Pakistan came into effect along the military Line of Control in November 2003 as part of peace efforts between the two rivals and violations have been rare.
Officials say separatist militants fighting New Delhi’s rule in the Himalayan region are still trying to cross the border from Pakistani Kashmir, but violence has steadily dropped after the neighbours launched a peace process in 2004.
Since the peace process began, the two sides have made little progress over Kashmir which they claim in full but rule in parts.
